Fishing boss: I'm innocent

The fishing company boss arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 19 Chinese cocklers today told of his "absolute disbelief" at the prospect of being charged.

David Eden, 33, claimed he has been made a scapegoat for the failure of the police to protect the immigrant workers.

Mr Eden, who runs the Liverpool Bay Fishing Company with his father, also called David, admitted buying cockles from a Chinese man who approached him a month ago.

Mr Eden said the cocklers who died went out to Morecombe Bay at night when the rising tide was at its most dangerous, because they had been attacked by British cocklers in daylight.

The attackers had also thrown petrol and diesel on the immigrants' cockles. Mr Eden, who claimed no direct involvement in the cockling, accused Lancashire Police of ignoring the Chinese workers' concerns.

"This is a terrible, terrible tragedy," he said. "These people were persecuted not by Chinese gangmasters, but by British people."